Author Topic: XT or standard 650  (Read 1831 times)

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Offline deecat

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XT or standard 650
« on: April 20, 2022, 19:24:46 »
After going for a full day out on our 21 reg nc 750x ,we are going to go back to a Suzuki this time a 650.
I have been looking at what is around and I am not sure whether to go for the standard bike or a XT,

Can anyone with a XT let me know how good or bad the wheels keep their finish or if they are hard to look after.
Also is the plastic engine cover worth having .

Offline dav

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2022, 20:04:15 »
Good Choice we love our 21reg 650, we are two up all time and I think it's brilliant, having come from an ST1300 Pan. 
We went for the standard one with alloy wheels and had it upgraded with the accessories, due to the stories I have read on the XT of the spokes tarnishing, or rusting on relatively new bikes, then apparently a struggle with Suzuki arises, trying to get them to change them under warranty, also you have to be careful what you clean the anodised rims with, one, owner's rims have faded as I know of, on a couple of months old bike, I didn't need that hassle
Only two gripes with ours, rock hard seat, which we had re-upholstered and wind blast
new Puig screen cured that, Givi airflow screen didn't work,  now delighted with it .

Offline deecat

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2022, 21:18:10 »
Thanks for that dav, I will just look at the standard bike and add some parts to it, as I am looking at some pre reg bikes from out of town dealers so would like to keep away from any warranty issues.

I will need the Givi mounting bracket for a top box and a main stand for starters and I do also like the look of the genuine engine cover .

Offline Keith60

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2022, 02:26:01 »
Mine was standard 650, I wouldn’t have spoked wheels!!!  But it came with the XT plastic engine guard, which I don’t think would give much protection to stone thrown up, but I do prefer the look of them.  Having said that it’s a very expensive upgrade that was about £250!!  😳😳😳. Maybe worth a haggle with the dealer!
Never too old to ride!

Offline Oop North John

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2022, 06:58:10 »
When I bought mine last year the ideal option would have been an XT without the spoked wheels. Unfortunately not available, so added the hand guards / engine cowling etc to it. The plastic cowling keeps small stones and some muck off the engine etc, and IMO, nicely finishes off the look of the bike. But it doesn't provide protection if you ground out the bike on rocks / kerbs etc.

Personally I don't ride in situations where a spoked wheel might have an advantage, and I don't like the method they use to make the wheel suitable for tubeless tyres. After having had a few BM's then their method of having the spokes outside of the tyres area looks much nicer, though they've probably patented it hence the methods others are forced to use.

Offline deecat

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2022, 07:54:53 »
I do think I will get the Suzuki cowl as the wife thinks it looks nice!

Offline dav

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2022, 09:56:28 »
@deecat
We have the plastic cowl and agree it does look nice, by the design of it,  it keeps the engine clean and protects the oil filter, we use ours on road only so it's fine.
I have had Honda's for 41 years and found nothing they now offer suited my needs, it was a big change for me, but we are well pleased with the V strom 650 pulls very, very well and we are more or less at it's maximum weight

Offline Barbel Mick

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2022, 10:24:13 »
Had the Suzuki plastic engine cowl on ours from new, don't go off road so no need for anything else.
Yes, it definitely finishes the bike off and it does help to keep the front of the engine & oil filter free from dirt.
With & without......
Mick

Retired Breakfast Tester and semi professional tumbler.

Offline deecat

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2022, 11:07:38 »
Just doing the ring around to see what I can get,it would be nice if the seat from our 2018 1000 will fit the 650 as it has gel inserts.

Offline p47

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2022, 16:20:16 »
I've got the standard 650 bought  from a dealer low miles paid the going price for a plain 650 however mine came with handguards , the plastic engine cowl ,front mudguard extender, scott oiler, and the over priced Suzuki integrated panniers which lock with the ignition key. so shop around. it left me with the money to throw at : centre stand - a must , givi airflow , tall seat, footpeg lowering kit , mirror extenders and Oxford heated grips  :roll: blimey no wonder these vstroms are so cheap to buy!

Offline sillyboy

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #10 on: April 21, 2022, 17:35:08 »
one with proper front brakes would be great. :smirk:

Offline V-Twin

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #11 on: April 21, 2022, 18:04:05 »
Quote "Just doing the ring around to see what I can get".

Why not get the XT, but ask the dealer to swap over the wheels from a standard 650. :shrug:
That way a dealer can sell the ordinary 650 with upgraded spoke wheels. ??? :grin:

Offline Cartejo5

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #12 on: April 21, 2022, 18:17:47 »
I've a 2018 xt model, the spokes and rims are still as new.


I would just buy what you fancy and not get overly hung up on the wheels.

Offline deecat

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #13 on: April 21, 2022, 19:23:28 »
I have done the deal on a 71 reg bike with 2 miles on it, which I will be picking up the week after next ,this will give me enough time to strip my Nc 750 of all its parts, some of which I will fit to the Suzuki.

When I buy new from my local dealer I always do a deal to have the tyres changed for Pilot roads but I am going to see how god or bad the standard Bridgstones tyres are especially in the wet before we go on holiday.

Are the brakes poor on this bike? the 1000 had very good stoppers.

Offline sillyboy

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #14 on: April 22, 2022, 06:55:55 »
the brakes are usually described as adequate. :grin:

Offline porter

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #15 on: April 22, 2022, 19:44:47 »
Can you tell us why your changing from the 21 NC750x to the Vstrom?
Reason I'm  asking is I like both bikes and think all the time about downsizing to either. Interested in the NC at the moment in DCT because of bad wrists.

Offline deecat

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #16 on: April 22, 2022, 22:51:51 »
If I was just using the bike one up I would have kept the Honda as this is the fifth one that I have had and it is an improvement on the older models. It does take some time to get used to the low revving nature of this engine.

The bike has very good low down balance and the trunk is very useful.

Now that we have gone down to one bike we find the Honda just a bit to small to be doing full day out rides, so we have changed to the Suzuki 650 to hopefully give us the comfort that we had with the V-strom 1000.
I am initially looking at the 650 to be stop gap until Suzuki possibly bring out a 700/800 replacement ,but who knows until we have lived with it for some miles.
I can offer a better comparison once that I have put some miles on the new bike, which needs running in.

Offline dav

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #17 on: April 23, 2022, 08:58:51 »
I think you might well be very surprised with the new 650 engine, when you have run it in, they have made a lot of engine improvements to it in various ways,  I am two up all the time and don't see the need for a 700/800 engine and that's coming from a 1300 V4, as for the NC750 two of my friends have them and they tell me, they keep hitting the rev limiter Trying to keep up, in normal riding, their words not mine, when I looked at one I didn't fancy it at all, single disc up front, no rear preload, No Thanks,, Having had Honda's for 41 years, I switched because I thought Honda have lost the plot recently, with their offerings

Offline deecat

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #18 on: April 23, 2022, 17:39:08 »
I can not wait to find out.
One thing that I did like about the New version of the NC 750x is that they have changed the gears and being a DCT it was very good from the lights.

I do agree about the single disc which we found a bit poor when two up with any luggage so I am hoping that the 650 brakes are not as poor as a lot of owners say they are.

I did like the grunt of the 1000 its brakes and suspension and if it was 30-40 kg lighter I would still have it.

Offline dav

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Re: XT or standard 650
« Reply #19 on: April 23, 2022, 19:24:05 »
Yep, I know where you're coming from with the weight issue, even a modest amount made a big difference, to me being the older end, I think it dictates which bike you buy, [It did with me], as your strength to handle a heavier bike becomes a challenge, especially riding two up, and slow maneuvering,  30-40 kg does makes a big difference, I'm sure you will not be disappointed with the handling, balance, and the surprising grunt I found the new 650 has, we are well pleased with it